The special flavors of most Barbados food is due to the blend of herbs and spices known as Bajan Seasoning. This blend includes thyme, marjoram, green onions and parsley to name a few. Barbados rum is also a popular cooking ingredient.

     The national dish of Barbados is Cou Cou and Flying Fish. Cou cou is a unique blend of cornmeal and okra mixed with salt, peppers and Bajan hot sauce. Flying fish is the most commonly found fish in the warm waters surrounding Barbados and is usually served fried or steamed.  These two combined have formed a dish Barbados has become famous for, so let Cou Cou and Flying Fish be your first meal!  Here are some other traditional favorite dishes that you should try when in Barbados

Bajan Macaroni Pie and Flying Fish referred to as just “Pie and Fish,” it is their version of macaroni and cheese served with a fillet of fried flying fish. Flying fish is often exchanged for a variety of other tropical Barbados fish such as Mahi Mahi and Blue Marlin.

Bajan Black Eye Peas and Rice - or “Rice N’ Peas” as it is referred to, is the most popular rice dish in Barbados and is a common substitute for Macaroni Pie. These native African peas have become a major part of Barbadian family meals. This dish is sometimes made with kidney beans and parsley.

 Bajan Candied Sweet Potatoes are sweet potatoes are made with lots of Barbados brown sugar. If served mashed they are sometimes topped with sweet pineapples and cherries.

Fried Plantains  the Plantain is a close relative to the sweet banana and makes a delicious addition to any meal when fried and topped with cinnamon. Fried plantains are often diced and individually wrapped in bacon making an amazing hors d’oeuvre.

Fish Cakes  These deep fried fish balls are made of salted cod fish and herbs. It is common to find these being sold on the side of the road.

The Barbados Cherry A bright red, tastey Barbados fruit that is often turned in to juice.

Pudding N’ Souse - This is a very special Barbados meal. The pudding is made of pig intestines stuffed with sweet potatoes and the souse is boiled down pig head and trotters. A great dish for the adventurous!

Conkies - Conkies are made of a mixture of cornmeal, coconut, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and cornflour wrapped in a banana leaf. These are usually made in November to celebrate Barbados’ independence.

For the best site for finding excellent dining places, their ratings, and an interactive map on which to find these establishments on Barbados Tourism Authority's site:  HERE

Here are some more suggestions:

NOTE:  This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm that the restaurant is still in business and all rates and details are current before planning your trip.

Heading out of Bridgetown towards the West Coast - right before Holetown - you will find The Coach House. They serve Bajan style food, and have a great lunch buffet. Bomba's Beach Bar is located right on Paynes Bay beach, and is a good spot for inexpensive food.

In Holetown,   Angry Annie's for the best ribs, garlic potatoes, fresh vegetables and fish. Most of the popular restaurants in Holetown (1st Street) are not open for lunch, so check before you go.

Olive's Bar, located in an old historic building, and offers good Jamaican Jerk in the downstairs courtyard (inside dining also), and the bar is upstairs. And Nico's Bar serves a great stew, Caribbean lobster, Caesar salads and delicious soup. The Crocodile Den is a small laid back sports and music bar, and always has a lively atmosphere.

There are many West coast restaurants in St. James that offer more expensive dining.  Recommended are The Lone Star (pricey),  Daphnes (located at The House at Tamarind) and The Cliff.   Sandy Lane is another option for very fine dining, but you will need plenty of room on the credit card to dine there.

Heading west in the parish of ST. PETER is the Fish Pot, located at Little Good Harbour. Try the lobster chicken with teriyaki lemon grass. Or another good place is Mangos by the Sea where you can buy the catch of the day directly from the local fishing boats.

In SPEIGHTSTOWN, good value and food can be found at the Fisherman's Pub which offers Creole dishes and fresh fish. Friday night at the Pub always has a lively crowd of locals and tourists.

On the EAST COST (Atlantic ocean side of the island), you must stop at the 50 year old Atlantis Hotel restaurant, which offers a wonderful Bajan buffet, or stop in the Roundhouse Restaurant where cliff side seats offer wonderful views of the Atlantic. The Cove is another good spot, and popular with locals on Sunday. The Bonito Bar & Grill is a popular tour stop, and they serve good, inexpensive food.

Heading up the SOUTHEASTERN COAST, stop at The Crane Hotel. Have lunch or drinks on the outside terrace, and enjoy the view of Crane Beach - make sure you have your camera on this trip. Sundays are particularly nice with a Gospel breakfast and traditional Bajan lunch buffet. Lots of good food and gospel music to start your day.

Heading to the SOUTH COAST, you'll pass through OISTINS. On Friday nights, this is absolutely the best, and least expensive place to get fresh fish. Oistins is a fishing village, and there are more than 30 vendor stalls to choose from. This is an open air fish fry, complete with music, and lots of tourists and locals. One of my favorite places is The Fish Net. Get to Oistins around 6 or 6:30 before the food lines get too long.

Moving on to  the South Coast you'll find a variety of about 20 restaurants to choose from - all within walking distance. Most of the restaurants are not open for lunch, but the St Lawrence Gap comes alive at night. Cafe Sol, is a favorite with the best, inexpensive Mexican Food, tasty Margarita's, several happy hours, and a great people watching spot if you get a seat on the outside bar or outside tables.
The Ship Inn is open for lunch, and is also a popular night spot with life entertainment - cover charge on some nights.

For a romantic dinner on the South Coast, I would suggest either Pisces or Josefs . While not moderate in price, they all offer great food, and atmosphere. If you choose Pisces, make reservations for a table by the water. The Restaurant at Southsea always has great reviews.

For vegetarians, The Harlequin Restaurant has the best offering with at least nine entrees on the menu, and they also have fish dishes. And The Lucky Steak House offers the best American breakfast  on the island - they also have slots.

Leroy runs a food cart located in front of Divi Southwinds, and he'll fill your plate with LOTS of good food at moderate prices. In fact, speaking of food carts, you can find reasonably priced meals at many food cart on the island - the one by Sandy Lane is also a very good choice.

Popular nightspots in The Gap are The Raggae Lounge and After Dark. The Reggae Lounge is an open air nightclub where the action doesn't start until late. The same goes for After Dark, where you can find live entertainment - many of the local bands play there, and there are two dance floors, outdoor and indoor. Both nightclubs offer a variety of music.

Stop in any of the Rum Shops all over the island - they are a great place to really get the flavor of Barbados. At the entrance of the gap is a Rum Shop, which offers very good, reasonably priced food. The Rum Shops are sponsored by Malibu and Banks Beer, and carry their painted logo on the side. You'll usually find a game of dominos, talk about politics, sports or other interesting topics. The locals are quite friendly, so join in the conversation, and you'll learn a lot more about Barbados, and the Bajan people in general. Website:  HERE

Right off The Gap on Sandy Beach is the Carib Beach Bar. Very lively atmosphere right on the beach. They serve sandwiches and the best coconut pie - if you can get it - they always run out.

If you're into sports, visit Bubba's Sports Bar with 12 TV's and a couple large screen TV's. Bubba's offers a nice menu at reasonable prices. Don't go on Sundays unless you want to meet up with lots of kids and Disney movies.

Another inexpensive meal in Barbados can be found at any of the Roti Shop's. Roti's are an Indian-Caribbean dish consisting of spiced meat, or vegetables rolled in a chapati Indian bread wrap. Chefette Restaurants also serve Roti's and is the most popular Barbados fast food restaurant. And try the "Conkies" - (a mixture of cornmeal, coconut, pumpkin, raisins, sweet potatoes and spices steamed in banana leaves).

No trip to Barbados is complete with a visit to Brown Sugar. This popular restaurant burned down, but is open again and located in St Michael's Aquatic Gap. Brown Sugar serves Bajan cuisine, and has always been known as a tropical dining oasis with lush greenery.

In Bridgetown good spots for lunch are the Waterfront Cafe, and the Rusty Pelican - both offer good food, and nice views of the Careenage. Harbour Lights is a popular nightspot - it's an open air beach front nightclub, and the best time to go is on Wednesday and Friday - pay a cover charge, and drinks are free. Another popular nightspot is The Boatyard for live entertainment, and drinks are free with cover charge.

     Most restaurants have their menus on the street, so you can see what they offer, along with prices. Don't let the prices scare you, all prices listed on restaurant menus are in BBD dollars, and the island currency is tied to the U.S. dollar. If a price is $30 BBD, that equals to $15 U.S. (WHEN IN BARBADOS--THINK ONE-HALF OF WHAT IS PRICED IN BBD!)  Unlike here in the States, your bill is usually presented only when you ask for it. And remember, you are on Caribbean time, so relax.